Diwali is just around the corner, but you know that already, since the prep starts weeks in advance. The mirchi lights have been laid out, sweets have been ordered, gifts have been packed and the deck of cards carefully set aside in the last cabinet drawers, have also been brought out.

Diwali cleaning officially marks the onset of Diwali parties that will soon come calling at our doors. Sorry, did I just say Diwali parties? I actually meant teen patti parties we shall soon find ourselves embroiled in, over many long hours.

Diwali is synonymous to teen patti parties (and much more) in most parts of north and west India. The notion of gambling the night away on Diwali, along with food and drinks for company, seems like the most obvious thing to do!

If you've never been in on this trend, or rather “tradition” then allow me to let you in on what to expect from a teen patti party. Teen patti is much like a local version of three card poker that can be played in different variations. It is believed that being the biggest loser of the game on this day brings you monetary good luck in the following year. Without going into all the details, let us just say that this night-long game is a staple of almost all Diwali gatherings out here.

No, don't frown upon this just yet. Gambling has been a part of ancient Indian culture, which might do you good to remember. The entire 'Mahabharat' is a result of the game! According to popular folklore, it is believed that the actual tradition of gambling on Diwali night started after goddess Parvati won a game of dice against her husband Shiva, and declared that gambling on the night of Diwali shall bring prosperity into the players' life.

But we suppose that most of us are not even aware of this aspect of the tradition and yet, year after year we show up at diwali parties and try our luck. Some nights we come out a winner, most nights we find ourselves poorer by thousands, but the excitement doesn't fade.

Why? Because we don't gather around our friends and family to pocket the cash, instead it's more about coming together, making merry and having a good time in each other's company these few nights every year. But yes, on our good days we do go home richer by a few thousand too.

The craze is such that people have found a way to play the game with their friends and family on virtual platforms too! According to a TOI report, many online poker portals saw a huge surge in traffic on Diwali night. Even the bets tripled in size per table!

Last year popular poker sites raised their rewards as well. Adda52Rummy kept its prize money at Rs 5 lakh last year to bring in more participants, besides other offers. What's more, popular messaging app Hike Messenger also launched a multiplayer 'Teen Patti Nights' around Diwali last year.

Perhaps you can already tell that the popularity and craze behind the game is huge here, especially in Delhi because people look forward to the teen patti nights as much as they do to Diwali. Enthusiasts will head anywhere for a slice of this game on any given day, and most of us are guilty of it too.